Georgian Dream MP: pragmatic Russia policy aims to reintegrate occupied regions

Georgian Dream parliamentary majority member Levan Machavariani said Georgia is pursuing a cautious and pragmatic policy toward Russia because it seeks to reintegrate its temporarily occupied territories and will avoid steps that could reduce the chances of achieving that goal.

“We pursue a very cautious and pragmatic policy toward Russia for one reason only - we have temporarily occupied territories to reintegrate, and we will not take any step that could reduce the possibility of achieving this. On the contrary, we will always take steps to make this a reality and reintegrate Tskhinvali and Abkhazia,” Machavariani said during a parliamentary plenary session on Tuesday.

Machavariani said the “chronicle of betrayal” by Georgia’s previous government did not begin with the 2008 war.

He the previous government’s actions included holding so-called parallel elections in 2006, which he said granted legitimacy to separatists; restoring the so-called South Ossetian district and its former administrative boundaries, including Akhalgori; and renaming the Kodori Gorge “Zemo Abkhazia” [Upper Abkhazia].”

He also accused the previous government of removing experienced military personnel from the armed forces before the war, eliminating the provision on treason from legislation, failing to warn the civilian population and allowing politicians to make military decisions during the conflict.

Machavariani further criticized the previous government’s actions after the war, claiming that it accused Georgian servicemembers of war crimes and of starting the conflict, and signed the Tagliavini report, which, he said, stated that Georgia had created a legal basis for Russia to launch its aggression.

He also alleged that the previous government gave Russia a decisive vote in its bid to join the World Trade Organization and transferred strategic assets to companies owned by the Russian state.

“Rhetorically, it is very easy to accuse someone of something, but these radical forces have no facts or evidence against the Georgian government,” Machavariani said, adding that the Georgian Dream retains a public mandate, as reflected in election results.

Machavariani also responded to criticism from members of the For Georgia faction, who accused the ruling party of failing to use sufficiently strong rhetoric against Russia.

“If you believe that the temporarily occupied territories can be reintegrated, you should not take a step that reduces the chances of doing so. If you know that Russia is an aggressor and needs only a pretext to launch another military aggression, why should you give it that pretext?” he said.

Machavariani added Georgia must take into account the reality of having Russia as a neighboring country and avoid actions that could increase security risks.

“We have an obligation to do everything possible to reintegrate our temporarily occupied territories. We do not have the right to give in to emotions and make statements that would reduce the likelihood of achieving this. We do not have the right to increase risks for our citizens. Therefore, our pragmatic, cautious, measured, flexible and balanced policy is without alternative. The Georgian people understand this best,” Machavariani said.